Electric switch.



H. J. MOREY &` F. A. BRGGDEN.

ELECTRIC SWITCH. APPLICATION Hum JUNE 27, 1911.

Patented Sept. 10, 1912.

switch is produced, particularly adapted to ing with member performs UMTED STATES HABBYJ'. HOBBY AND FAY .A.` BBOGDEN,

PATENT' OFFICE. i

or ssirnitcusn, NEW Yonxi. i

f anncrmc .swrrcm specification of: Letters rennt. Patented Sept 10, 1912 Application led June 27,1911. Serial No. 385,654.

1 indicates the lower block of the insulating base provided with the T shaped rccess 2 and the grooves 3 forthe spindle. The upper block 4 is also provided with a similar T shaped recess 5, whereby a chamber is formed for the switch mechanism, when the blocks are assembled. This mechanism is composed essentially of the spindle 6, the c'am 7 the circuit-closer 8 and the spring 9. The spindle is journaled between the two blocks "n the grooves 3 formed in either one or both blocks as most convenient. It is provided on its outer enrl with the thumb-piece 11` of hard rubber, porcelain or other suitable insulating material. At about its center the spindle is iiattened, as shown at 12, or provided with any other form of suitable projection, for engaging with and rotating the cam This cam is so formed as to produce, when rotated, tension in the spring, whereby the cam and the circuit'closer are snapped; also to be under constant longitudinal pressure of the spring whereby' the circuit closer is held firmly in either make or break position and a good wiping contact between the circuit closer and the contacts is insured keeping them c can andV bright. To perform both these functions' the cam must be made with corners or projections and with inclined sides. It is conveniently and economically stamped from sheetmetal in the particular form shown, that :is rectangular, or square, in cross-section, and its two in clined sides 13 having To all whmn 'it 'may oon-cem:

Be it known that we, HARRY J. Moiuiiv and FAY A. Bnoonnn, citizens of the United States, residing at Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga` and State of New York, have invented new and useful Imrovements in Electric Switches, of which the following is a specification;

Our invention relates to electric switches and consists in a new combinationan' arrangement of parts', including certain parts of new form and function, whereby a strong, simple, compact and economical sockets. Ithas the advantages of a goo wiping contact, wide separation between the terminals, and a strong and uick make and break, when turned in either direction.

The essential features of our invention are a circuit closer, a cam .member engaging therewith, a resilient member engag the cam, and means to rotate the cam. The parts are arranged on a suitable base of insulating material carrying also suitable terminals, contacts and connect-ions.

The cam is so formed that the resilient the double function of causing it to snap, when turned in either` direction, and forcing it longitudinally to maintain the circuit closer in position for effecting a wiping contact with the con tacts. ln the particular form of switch here shown, illustrative of Vour invention, the circuit closer, the cam and the spring are all strung on the rotating spindle, an arrangement convenient for assembling and desirable for maintaining the parts in position.

In the drawing herewith the referenceV numerals of this description indicate the same parts in all the figures.

Figures 1. and 2 are vertical sections respectively showing the circuit open and closed." Figs. 3 and 4 are vertical sections at a right angle to Figs. 1 and 2, Fig?) being taken on section line 3 of Fig. 1 and Fig. 1 on section line LtofFig. 2. Fig. 5 is a top plan of the lower block with the switch parts in position thereon. Fig. 6 is a bottom plan ofthe upper block. Fig. 7 is a detail perspective view of the circuitc1oser,.cam and spring, illustrating the-de-l sirablearrangement on the spindle. Fig, 8 is a similardetail view showing a slightly modified form of spring.

inclined edges, so that in all posit ons it oifersa tapering side to the spring and thereby is forced ongitudinally.

The cam-sides 13 are provided with the studs 14, or any suit-able projections, to engage with the flanges 16, or other suitable projections, on

be used. We prethe circuit-closer, whereby f the quick movement of the cam is commu hereshown are good,y s form of' resilient a the flanges of the threaded'shell 27. This spring pressure for the purposes above de.- scribed.

In assembling the parts, the circuit closer,

cam and spring are hrst strun on the Spin- 5 (lle, in the order named, an then set in and protected all parts of the switch. But t e important characteristic of this Switch is re ave produce'd a small and compact switch which .will break a heavy current for 70 which much larger and heavier devices have heretofore been considered necessary.l This switch is particularly adapted for' v use in a standard brass shell socket and the insulating base is shown of a form to be in- ,5 closed in the brass shell, but wedo not pro# pose to limit our invention to suchpa-rticular. use orform.

Having described our invention, we claim,` 4 l 1. In a socket, a switch mechanism comprising 'suitable contacts suitably supported, Ya ,rotatable` circuit-closer, cam, engagin means connecting the cam and thecircuitsecured on the lower by thelonger screws 21.

It is desirable to provideor lost motion between the spindle projections 12 andthe 15` cam to permit the latterV to be snapped when a corner has passed the dead center and not be held by the hand of the operator; Lost motion lbetween the cam and the circuit closei` is also desirable, that the latter may 20 be held by the longitudinal action of thev spring in either make` or break. position, during the rst part of the rotation of the spindle and of the cam, whereby the tension of the lspring is increased without initially moving the circuit closer and when the snap thereof comes it is sharp.' j

The other parts of the socket are for the most part of usual construction. On the outer surface of the lower block is formed the'boss 25 which fits between the flanges 26 on the outer threaded Edison ter minal 27,

to maintain. said part in position. This terminal is secured to the base by the longer Yscrews 21 .which connect the blocks by engaging with washers 30 in cavities 31 in upper blocks, filled with insulating fco pound. In a notch in the oss is secured by a single screw 32 the center lamp terminal 33, from which extends into the inner chamber through a slot, the contact 34. In another lnotch on the side of the up r block is arranged the .wire terminal 35 liiilving a lip 36 extending over the lower surface of the lower block to make contact with one of to force the latter against thecircuit-closer.

j Socket switch mechanism comprising a suitable insulatin base, contacts thereon, a rotatable circuit-c oser, atapering cam of angular cross section, :engaging means between the' cam and the circuit-closer, means .to rotate the-cam, and a resilient member exerting pressure on the cam to 95- snap-,the-cam as-rotated and to press the `cam and circuit-closer toward the contacts.

electricswitch comprising suitablecontacts, a rotatable circuit-closer'v-t-o copf Y erate with the contacts, a rotatable cam, 1-00 engagin means betweenthecam and thev circult-c oser to communicate rotation of one to the other, hand operated means to r0- tate one of said rotatable parts, and a resilient mem r engaging with the cam to snap the latter as turned and to force the cam and the circuit-closer toward the contacts.

n electric switch mechanism comprising suitable contacts suitably supported, a rotatable circuit-closer to coperate with the contacts, a tapering cam havlng projections on its sides, engaging means between the cam and the circut-closer, hand operated means to rotate the cam, and a resilient element exerting pressure on t-he side of the cam to snap the same as' it is rotated and to force the same toward the circuit-closer.

In a socket the combination with a suitable insulating base, of contacts thereon, a hand rotated spindle journaled in the base, a circuit-closer strung on the splndle adjacent to the contacts and rotatable independently -of the spindle, a ta ering cam strung on the spindle, said cam aving side projections, engaging means connecting the 125 c'am and the spindle, lengaging means connecting the cam and the circuit-closer and a spring in engagement with the side of the cam.

6. A quick-make, quick-break switch wire terminal is secured in place b one of t e longer screws .21 engaglng wit its lip This switch is composed of a minimum of 55 parts and all those arts, simple in form and easy to be ma e, for the most part stamped at one operation from sheet metal. Assembling is very easy. The blocks are connected and all the parts are secured on 60 the blocks merely by two short and two long screws. -These blocks are conveniently molded from porcelain, the most desirable insulating material with the similar recesses on their adjacent surfaces forming the cen- 65 tral closed chamber in which are inclosed 4 closer,l means to rotate'the cam in either dif 85 operating parts on the Y spindle,

comprising an insulating base, terminals thereon suitably separated and insulated, conductors for the terminals, a circuitclo-ser adapted to bridge the space between the terminals and to make wiping contact therewith, a wedge shaped cam engaging with the circuit-closer, engaging means connecting the cam and the circuit-closer, means to turn the cam, in either direction, and a spring engaging with the edge of the cam to snap it as the corners pass the spring in rotation and to force it longitudinally against the circuit-closer.

7.*In a socket for incandescent electric lamps having an insulating base composed of two blocks of porcelain recessed on their adjacent faces to form a chamber, a quickmake, quick-break switch mechanism comprising contacts extending into said chamber, a spindle journaled between the blocks, a circuit closer strung on the spindle adjacent the contacts and rotatable independently of the spindle, a tapering cam having projections on its sides, said cam being strung on the spindle and having parts loosely engaging with the circuit-closer to turn the latter in either direction, a projection on the spindle to turn the cam when the spindle is turned, said project-ion being in loose engagement with the camand a spring engaging with the cam to snap the latter as it is turned and to force the cam against the circuit-closer and the latter against the contacts.

8. In a socket for incandescent electric lamps having an insulating base composed of two porcelain blocks provided with T shaped recesses to form a T shaped chamber for the circuit-closer, and a' switch mechanism arranged in the chamber comprising a spindle journaled between the blocks, an external thumb-piece on the a circuit-closer strung on the spindle, atapering cam, square in cross section, strung on the spindle, said cam being provided with partsl loosely to engage with cocircuit-closer and said spindle being prov1ded with a projecv tion loosely to engage .wit

the cam, and a spring strung on the spin le and having a large loop tting the shaft of the T shaped chamber and inturned opposite ends to engage With the sides of the cam and pinch the cam between them.

9. In a socket having a base composed of two blocks of porcelain adapted to set together and provided with recesses on their adjacent faces to form a chamber, and a switch mechanism comprising a spindle journaled' between the blocks` closer strung on the cam and turning independently thereof, opposite flanges on the circuit-closer, a tapering cam strung on the spindle, said cam being s uare in crossssection and having opposite'studs on itssides loosely to engage with the circuit-closer flanges, said flattened portion loosely to engage with the cam and rotate the latter when the spindle is rotated, and a spring strung on the spindle and engaging the sides otthe cam, said circuit-closer, spring and cam being arranged in the chamber.

l0. A quick. make, quick break electric switch, comprising suitable contacts, a circuit-closer coperatin'g therewith, a tapering cam having projections, engaging means between the cam and the circuit-closer, a key rotatable in either direction, said key being'formed to engage with the cam with a loose engagement for rotating the latter,

and a resilient element engaging with the it is rotated and to cam to snap the same as longitudinally press it and the circuit-closer toward the contacts.

11. For use in an-electric switch, a tapering carnhaving suitable projections on its surface,l means to rotate the cam, and a spring to engage with the cam surface provided with projections to snap the cam and to force it longitudinally.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this speciication in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HARRY J. MOREY. FAY AL BROGDEN.'

Witnesses:-

B. E. SALISBURY, W. BREws'rER HALL.4

a circuit' spindle being provided with al 

